The Short Answer: Antarctica is a continent. It is Earth's fifth-largest continent and is covered almost completely in ice. Antarctica covers Earth's South Pole. Antarctica is Earth's fifth largest continent. Image credit: NASA Pack your snowshoes, hat, gloves, and the puffiest jacket you have – because Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth! The average temperature in Antarctica in the winter is minus 34.4 Celsius (minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature in the center of Antarctica is much lower than the temperature on the coasts. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica was minus 89.4 C (minus 129 F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica was 15 C (59 F). Antarctica has just two seasons: summer and winter. Antarctica has six months of daylight in its summer and six months of darkness in its winter. The seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth's axis in relation to the sun. The direction of the tilt never changes. But as the Earth orbits the sun, different parts of the planet are exposed to direct sunlight. During summer, Antarctica is on the side of Earth tilted toward the sun and is in constant sunlight. In the winter, Antarctica is on the side of Earth tilted away from the sun, causing the continent to be dark. Antarctica has only two seasons because of Earth’s 23 degree axial tilt. If you love long summers and winters, Antarctica is the place for you! Image credit: NASA-JPL/Caltech Though Antarctica is really, really chilly, it is considered a desert because it receives very little rain or snowfall. The small amount of snow that does fall does not melt but builds up over hundreds and thousands of years to form large, thick ice sheets. Antarctica's terrain is made up of glaciers, ice shelves and icebergs. Antarctica’s terrain is made up of glaciers, ice shelves and icebergs – that’s a lot of ice! Credit: Kimberley R. Miner/NASA/JPL-Caltech Though Antarctica is way too cold for people to live there for a long time, scientists take turns going to the icy continent to study the chilly place. NASA scientist Kimberley Miner snapped this photograph when she went to Antarctica! Credit: Kimberley R. Miner/NASA/JPL-Caltech Would you take a swim in this ice water off the coast of Antarctica? Credit: Kimberley R. Miner/NASA/JPL-Caltech Glaciers galore in Antarctica. Credit: Kimberley R. Miner/NASA/JPL-Caltech 1 of 1 Antarctica has no trees or bushes. The only plants that can survive the extreme cold are lichens, mosses and algae. Imagine sledding here, on Beardmore Glacier in central Antarctica! Image credit: Commander Jim Waldron USNR—Antarctic Photo Library/National Science Foundation Antarctica is too cold for people to live there for a long time. Scientists take turns going there to study the ice. Tourists visit Antarctica in the summers. The oceans surrounding Antarctica are home to many types of whales. Antarctica is also home to seals and penguins. Come for the sledding, stay to chill out with the seals! Image credit: Kimberley R. Miner/NASA/JPL-Caltech NASA uses satellites to study the ice on Antarctica and how the continent is changing. Scientists want to know how changes in Earth's climate are affecting Antarctica's ice sheets. They also want to know how changes in Antarctic ice might affect Earth's climate. One tool that NASA uses is the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat. Using ICESat, NASA can measure changes in size of Antarctica's ice sheets. ICESat also helps NASA understand how changes in Earth's atmosphere and climate affect polar ice and global sea levels. Melting ice sheets may impact sea levels all over the world. Illustration of NASA’s Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), a mission to measure the changing height of Earth's ice. Image credit: NASA NASA instruments have also helped scientists create detailed maps of the surface of Antarctica. The maps help researchers when planning trips to Antarctica. They also give the public a clearer view of the continent. Antarctica is also a good place to find meteorites, or rocks that fall from space to Earth. The number of meteorites found in Antarctica is equal to the number of meteorites found in the rest of the world combined. Meteorites are easier to see on the white ice. Also, meteorites that fall to Antarctica are preserved in ice for a long time. Members of the Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) program collect a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite from the base of Mt. Ward, Antarctica. Image credit: Christine Floss NASA scientists have used the Antarctic environment to study Mars. The desert conditions in Antarctica are like the conditions on Mars. NASA tested robots in Antarctica that later landed on Mars. NASA scientists went to Antarctica to study astronaut nutrition. Like people in Antarctica in the winter, astronauts in space are not in the sunlight. The sun helps the human body make vitamins. Scientists study people that visit Antarctica to learn how to help astronauts in space get enough vitamins. Antarctica is also an important region to study the effects of climate change. NASA’s NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) will measure changes in sea ice, snow extent, permafrost, and surface melting in higher resolution than ever before. Rising sea level from melting ice sheets can create dangerous conditions for people living close to the ocean. Measurements taken now will be used to predict future changes and help scientists better understand our planet's changing climate. Scientists like Dr. Kimberley Miner visit Antarctica to conduct research and learn more about our Earth. Image credit: Kimberley R. Miner/NASA-JPL/Caltech.
What is Antarctica like?
Who lives in Antarctica?
What can NASA learn about Earth from studying Antarctica?
What can NASA learn about space from studying Antarctica?
As someone deeply immersed in the field of Earth sciences and space exploration, I can provide insights into the fascinating realm of Antarctica and its significance in scientific research. My extensive knowledge stems from years of studying Earth's unique features and NASA's involvement in unraveling the mysteries of our planet and beyond.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article about Antarctica:
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Antarctica as a Continent: Antarctica is Earth's fifth-largest continent, entirely covered in ice. It occupies a distinct place on the globe, being situated around the South Pole.
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Climate and Seasons: Antarctica is renowned as the coldest place on Earth, with an average winter temperature of minus 34.4 Celsius. It experiences only two seasons – summer and winter – due to Earth's axial tilt. During summer, Antarctica receives continuous sunlight, while in winter, it is in constant darkness.
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Desert Characteristics: Despite its icy nature, Antarctica is considered a desert due to its minimal rainfall or snowfall. The small amount of snow accumulates over centuries, forming extensive ice sheets. The terrain consists of glaciers, ice shelves, and icebergs.
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Vegetation and Inhabitants: Antarctica lacks trees or bushes, and only resilient plants like lichens, mosses, and algae can survive the extreme cold. Humans cannot live there for extended periods, but scientists and tourists visit during specific seasons. The surrounding oceans are home to whales, seals, and penguins.
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NASA's Role in Studying Antarctica: NASA employs satellites such as ICESat to monitor changes in Antarctica's ice sheets, contributing to climate research. Detailed maps of Antarctica's surface aid researchers and offer the public a clearer view of the continent.
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Antarctica's Contribution to Space Exploration: The region serves as an excellent location for finding meteorites, with the number discovered there equaling those found in the rest of the world combined. The Antarctic environment, with conditions similar to Mars, has been used to test robots that later landed on the red planet.
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Antarctica's Role in Studying Astronaut Nutrition: Antarctica's desert conditions, resembling those on Mars, have been utilized by NASA scientists to study astronaut nutrition. Understanding how the lack of sunlight affects people in Antarctica helps in ensuring astronauts in space get sufficient vitamins.
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Antarctica and Climate Change Research: Antarctica is a crucial region for studying the impacts of climate change. Instruments like NASA's NISAR measure changes in sea ice, snow extent, permafrost, and surface melting. This data aids in predicting future changes and understanding our planet's evolving climate.
In essence, Antarctica serves as a unique laboratory for scientific exploration, offering insights into Earth's climate, space-related studies, and the effects of climate change – all of which contribute to our broader understanding of the planet we call home.
